Millennium Development Goals

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000 and nearly 190 countries have signed up to them. The goals are international targets for reducing global poverty. They aim to lift around 500 million people out of poverty by the year 2015. If this happens, fewer women will die in childbirth, fewer people will die from treatable diseases, many more boys and girls will go to school and the lives of millions of people will improve dramatically.

Evidence does suggest that improving people’s access to transport reduces poverty. For example, in Nepal an estimated 42% of people live in poverty, but in areas with poor roads, this figure rises to 70%. And potentially, a good transport infrastructure can help achieve most of the MDG targets. Transport can improve access to schools and health services, so helping to meet MDG targets on health and education. However, it is important that the way in which transport infrastructure is developed also meets MDG seven on environmental sustainability. Transport systems that destroy environments, pollute the air and contribute to climate change will not help to reduce poverty and improve health in the long term.